Highlights of Bolivia    (November 2006)
click for larger image	A spectacularly unsuccessful series of wars in the 19th century left Bolivia landlocked. The "Tibet of South America", it has the highest capital city in the world, La Paz. We couldn't wait to see if the local ladies really wear pork pie hats - just like in the Tintin comics!	Bolivia Fast Facts: Best Thing: The blinding white expanse of the Uyuni Salt Flats Worst Thing: Corrupt army guards trying (but failing!) to steal our money at the Peruvian-Bolivian border Big Surprise: Ladies in full indigenous outfits putting for birdie at the world's highest golf course Fun Fact: Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and Che Guevara all met their end at the hands of the Bolivian army

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That Ain't No Porkie Pie! Joyously, ladies in Bolivia really do wear great hats as part of their distinctive costume.

Floating Islands Of Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca is famous as the highest navigable lake in the world. Some tribes live on floating islands built from the reeds that grow in the lake. The islands need to be constantly repaired to prevent them from disintegrating, sending the inhabitants sinking into the icy waters below.

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Something Old, Something New Not EVERYTHING in the islanders' way of life is unchanged over the centuries. These guys have solar power - now where's the satellite TV dish?!

The World's Highest Golf Course Local ladies get ready to fire a drive down the fairway at the La Paz Golf Course, the world's highest at over 10,000ft. Unfortunately it was Staff Only Day, so we couldn't pull off our own gigantic drives in the thin air.

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Llama Fetus At The Witchcraft Market Next to our hotel in La Paz was the Market of Witchcraft, handy for all your potion, brew and curse needs. Cream of the crop seemed to be the rather grotesque dried armadillo and llama fetus - yuk!

A Trip Worth Its Salt On route to Chile, we journeyed in an off-road jeep for 4 days through the Uyuni Salt Flats. A rough and dusty ride, worth it for the scenery from another world.

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Pink And White A pair of flamingos take flight from a salty oasis.

Prickly Sentinels Bang in the middle of the salt flats, a rocky outcrop covered with 20ft tall cacti, standing silently to attention.

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Yippee - Another Active Volcano!!! Can you spot the feeble fumarole?

The Thinkers We ponder if it was worth the 4am start to see this geyser field in the ethereal early morning light? It was!

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What Now?! With the parched Atacama stretching out before us we reached the desolate Chilean border. By the looks of things, the next bus could be some time...

- See more pictures from this section - Go to next section : Chile - Go to previous section : Peru